Can Dogs Eat Nectarines?

Nectarines are nutritious fruit packed full of vitamins minerals and fiber so dogs can eat them in moderation. The key is to consume nectarines in moderation due to their high sugar content. In addition you should prepare Nectarines properly before giving them to your dogs as the Nectarine pit can be harmful to them and pose a choking hazard.

Can dogs have Nectarines?

You can give nectarines to your dog in moderation. In order to understand why Nectarines are a great fruit for dogs lets first take a look at what nectarines are.

What are Nectarines?

During the summer season (or from late spring to early fall) nectarines are a sweet seasonal fruit that many enjoy eating.

There is a tendency for many (including myself) to confuse nectarines with peaches and vice versa. Below is the difference between the two fruits.

Difference between Nectarine and peach

There are two main differences between nectarines and peaches. One is their size and another is their texture. It has been argued that the taste between the two is comparatively the same: sweet when fully ripe.

Size

Nectarines are smaller than peaches when compared side by side.

Texture

The skin of nectarines is smoother and thinner than that of peaches. Additionally the flesh of nectarines is firmer than that of peaches. On the other hand peaches have fuzzy thicker skin. They also have softer flesh.

You now know the difference between nectarine and peach. Now lets find out what makes nectarine so good for dogs.

Are Nectarines good for dogs?

It is true that nectarines are good for dogs because this sweet and juicy fruit is chock full of minerals vitamins and fiber. Besides being highly nutritious for dog owners this fruit is also excellent for their pets.

A moderate amount of nectarine an occasional sweet treat that many dogs love will satisfy their sweet tooth.

The nutrients in nectarines include magnesium potassium vitamins A and C as well as fiber. We will discuss how nectarines can benefit our canine friends’ health.

Vitamin A helps maintain good eyesight in dogs

Your four-legged friends can benefit from the following health benefits from providing vitamins A and E to their bodies:

Good eyesight.
Proper cell function.
Healthy immune function.
Fetal development.
Overall growth.

If you would like your furry friends to receive some of this wonderful vitamin A you can treat them to some nectarines.

Vitamin C helps reduce aging and inflammation in dogs

Vitamin C is an essential antioxidant that plays a critical role in your dogs health. It seeks out harmful free radicals that cause cognitive aging and destroys them. Due to dogs’ ability to make vitamin C in their livers many argue that supplementing your dog with this antioxidant isnot necessary.

It is always a good idea to give your pups some nectarine flesh to supplement their vitamin C level. When fed in moderation and as an occasional treat Nectarines should be fine for your K9 friend.

Magnesium produces energy at the cellular level in dogs

An important macromineral magnesium helps transport energy and performs cellular functions. As a result your four-legged friends will be able to move and flex their muscles easily maintain a normal and steady heart rate and have proper brain function.

In the dogs body this macromineral is responsible for more than 300 biochemical reactions. Dogs who consume foods such as nectarines that contain magnesium will benefit from the following health benefits:

Normal nerve function.
Healthy immune system.
Strong bones.
Maintain blood glucose levels.
Protein production.
Energy production.

Three other macrominerals are also dependent on magnesium for their function. These other minerals are potassium sodium and calcium. Potassium is the next mineral we will discuss.

Potassium helps maintain healthy muscle in dogs

Our canine friends need potassium in their diet since it is both a mineral and an electrolyte that plays a crucial role in their health. Water reacts highly with potassium making it an electrolyte. This mineral gets dissolved in water and creates positively charged ions which are what allow potassium to conduct electricity.

At the same time that magnesium is transferring energy at the cellular level potassium ensures that the electrical charges in the muscles nerves and body are functioning properly.

You can summarize potassiums benefits for your pets as follows:

Sending nerve signals.
Help with muscle contractions.
Regulates fluids in your dog’s body.

So you can give your puppy a moderate amount of nectarines every once in a while so that they can be supplied with minerals and electrolytes.

Dietary fiber maintains digestive system health in dogs

Fiber is essential to our canine friends just like it is to us humans. Fiber is a complex carb that gets fermented in the dogs large intestine so it takes the body longer to digest than say simple carbs.

Fiber is essential to dogs because it promotes regular bowel movements and produces stools that are firm and formed. Your dog may benefit from eating a little nectarine if he or she has diarrhea. Be sure to consult your veterinarian prior to doing so.

In addition fiber aids in regulating blood glucose levels and reducing fluctuations in blood glucose levels in diabetic dogs.

Foods and fruits that contain fiber like nectarines can help dogs who are undergoing weight management lose weight and maintain a healthy weight. Thats because fiber makes your pet feel full even though the food they ate was very low in calories.

For a TLDR summary here are some ways fiber can benefit your pets:

Promotes a healthy digestive tract in dogs.
Maintain balanced blood cholesterol levels.
Manages your dogs weight to keep them healthy.
Maintains your dogs teeth by reducing plaque and tartar buildup.
Promotes regular bowel movements to prevent constipation and chronic diarrhea.
Fiber-rich food makes your dogs feel full so they eat less and avoid eating inedible things like spoiled food.

Are Nectarines safe for dogs?

It is safe for dogs to eat nectarines as we can see. Do nectarines give dogs any problems? Nectarines are safe for dogs to eat. Nectarines are one of the best treats dogs can enjoy every now and then because of their nutritional value and health benefits.

Are Nectarines bad for dogs?

If you feed your canine pals too many nectarines then yeah this fruit is bad for them. Due to its high sugar content sugar can cause a host of short and long term health problems in dogs including:

Diabetes.
High blood pressure.
Poor dental health (cavities decay and erosion of enamel).
Weight gain.
Canine obesity.

You’ll definitely want to give your furry friends only a small amount of Nectarines because they are also packed with fiber. Dogs with too much fiber may also experience fiber imbalances which can lead to uncomfortable symptoms such as diarrhea or upset stomachs. It is possible for dogs that consume too much fiber to defecate inside the house due to the strong urge to do their business immediately.

Additionally too much fiber can also make it difficult for the dogs body to absorb minerals.

As a result you should give your four-legged friends nectarines in moderation as a special treat every now and then.

Nectarines can also cause dogs problems for another reason. Lets discuss Nectarine pits next to see how they can be dangerous to pets.

Can dogs eat Nectarine pits?

Nectarine pits should not be eaten by dogs. Nectarine pits should not be consumed by dogs for a variety of reasons.

Nectarine pit contains cyanide compounds that are poisonous to dogs

Like other stone fruits the nectarine pit contains a compound called cyanide that is toxic to dogs and can result in cyanide poisoning. Cyanide poisoning can cause:

Dilated pupils.
Erratic behavior.
Excessive drooling due to salivation.
Difficulty breathing.
Breathing hard and rapidly.
Convulsions.
Paralysis.

Contact your dogs vet as soon as possible if you suspect he has swallowed a Nectarine pit. As cyanide poisoning requires immediate medical attention your vet may ask you to bring your dog in for a physical examination. Once the proper treatment has been administered you can take your pup home.

My dog ate a Nectarine pit and is choking what should I do?

The nectarine pit is about 1 to 2 inches long so it can be a choking hazard if swallowed by dogs. You should do the following if your dog is choking on a Nectarine pit or any other pit or food:

Pull your dogs tongue out to the side of the mouth as soon as you open his or her mouth. Widen the mouth as much as possible.
With your index finger sweep it across the tongue. Ideally you want it in the center of the dogs mouth rather than the side. Use a needle nose plier or a thin tong if you do not feel comfortable using your finger to get hold of the pit and pull it out.
Perform the Heimlich maneuver standing up. Put your closed fist into the soft hollow under the dogs ribs while he is lying on his back with his head up. Once you have pulled up and in toward your stomach you should do it three times. The motion should resemble a thrusting motion.
Your dog should spit out the Nectarine pit when it is back in his mouth.

Kneeling Heimlich is an alternative if the standing Heimlich maneuver isnot working or if your pooch is too big or heavy to lift.

Is it poisonous for dogs to eat nectarine pits? Yes Nectarine pits are poisonous to dogs because they contain cyanide and they can even cause choking. Ensure that the nectarines are properly prepared before feeding them to your pups.

Before feeding your pups nectarines you can slice them into small bite-size pieces.

So can dogs eat Nectarines?

It is safe for dogs to eat nectarines as they contain fiber minerals and vitamins that are good for them. You should remember however that our pups should only eat nectarines in moderation because they have high sugar content which can lead to a variety of health problems.

Stone fruits such as nectarines should be avoided when feeding your dogs. The pit or stone is extremely harmful to dogs not only because of the chemical compounds it contains but also because it can be a choking hazard. It is important to properly prepare your pup before giving him nectarines.

If you want to read more about dog food tips read here: Dog Food Tips and Tricks.